SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Rhode Island voters give the public schools a passing grade and two-thirds of them support the proposed $250-million state bond issue for public school repair and construction, according to a new public opinion poll released Monday.
The telephone poll by the Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership at Bryant University was conducted by Fleming & Associates Feb. 12-15 and addressed a variety of education issues relating to Rhode Island's K-12 school system.
It surveyed 422 registered voters, including 122 respondents with children in local schools and has a margin of error of almost 5 percent.
The findings of the survey include:
- The majority of people surveyed gave Rhode Island's public schools a passing grade, with 33% giving the school system an "A" or a "B," and 35% rating the schools a "C."
- The schools fared significantly better among respondents with children currently enrolled in school — 60% of this group rated the schools an "A" or a "B."
- A slight majority (53%) of voters believe that public schools in their community prepare students for success in college.
- Nearly two-thirds of people surveyed (65%) said they favored Gov. Gina Raimondo's $250-million bond proposal for public school repair and construction throughout the state over the next five years.
- More than 40% of survey participants called the condition of school facilities a "great" problem. Almost 30% rated parent-school communications as a "great" problem, and 24% described the adequacy of state financial support for schools in their community as a "great" problem.
- More than 93% of voters polled said the need for STEM classes (science, technology, engineering and math) was "extremely" or "very" important. Likewise, 87% said it was extremely or very important to have computer technology that would prepare students for careers.
- More than 79% felt art and music classes were extremely or very important, while more than two-thirds said the need for advanced academic classes was equally important.
